What does it mean to be Native American today? If someone comes to me and says "I am part Native American," I ask them "which part? Your arm, your nose maybe, or is it your feet?" There are very few full blooded Native Americans left. By this I mean those who are 100 percent from one tribe and one nation. So as far as the rest of us go, what are we, what do we do about our ancestry, and how do we live here and now? This lens deals with the Native American Path today, and where and how we need to come together as one village, and one tribe. The answer to the question "What part of you is Native American" should without a doubt be proudly spoken, "My heart." When you can answer that and mean it, all of you is Native American.
Spirit Weaver
This lens is dedicated to the beautiful spirit of my Clan Mother Spirit Weaver. Before she crossed, I promised her I would do my best to carry on the teachings that she had devoted her life to. To help fulfill this purpose, this lens was created in her memory.
To quote her own words, Spirit Weaver was first and foremost, a teacher. This was her path and she never faltered from it. I was only one of the many who were fortunate enough to learn from her. It was she who gave me my adult name, Heart Song. It was Spirit Weaver who continued to teach me the Native American way of life, and how to walk my path after my Grandfather crossed. She also taught me how to spin, and weave, and how to make soap and greensalve. Her joy for life, her sense of humor, and her wisdom knew no bounds. Her Spirit lives on through those who knew and loved her.
To quote her own words, Spirit Weaver was first and foremost, a teacher. This was her path and she never faltered from it. I was only one of the many who were fortunate enough to learn from her. It was she who gave me my adult name, Heart Song. It was Spirit Weaver who continued to teach me the Native American way of life, and how to walk my path after my Grandfather crossed. She also taught me how to spin, and weave, and how to make soap and greensalve. Her joy for life, her sense of humor, and her wisdom knew no bounds. Her Spirit lives on through those who knew and loved her.
Your opinion matters
Is this lens helpful to you? I'd love to know what you like or don't like about it so I can make it as useful as possible. If you have a moment, please drop me a line and let me know, or simply click the stars above this introduction to let me know how I'm doing. ("Five" is "definitely useful" and "one" is "not even remotely useful, why did I waste my time?".) Thanks!
The Path
To walk your path, you must first find it. Your goal should be to want to always do the right thing, to make the right choices. No one is perfect, but the challenge to be as good as you can be lies before you always. What matters is how we choose to live. To know in our hearts that we are at least trying at all times to be the best we can be.
It is the Native American way to seek wisdom and to try to learn something new every day. To find your path, you must first find your special place. Go out into the woods or a park, somewhere you can be totally alone and find a place that is quiet, a place where you can be surrounded by nature. In this place you will pray, learn from nature, and find the answers your spirit seeks. This is your school. Open your mind, listen and let it teach you. Here is where you will find the first steps of your path. Here is where you will speak to the Great Creator. Here is where He and His nature will show you the important life lessons you will need to walk your path.
It is the Native American way to seek wisdom and to try to learn something new every day. To find your path, you must first find your special place. Go out into the woods or a park, somewhere you can be totally alone and find a place that is quiet, a place where you can be surrounded by nature. In this place you will pray, learn from nature, and find the answers your spirit seeks. This is your school. Open your mind, listen and let it teach you. Here is where you will find the first steps of your path. Here is where you will speak to the Great Creator. Here is where He and His nature will show you the important life lessons you will need to walk your path.
Learn to listen with your heart
Learning to listen to your heart can be easy if you have an open mind. Once you have found your special place, sit down, close your eyes, and listen. Perhaps you will hear birds, water flowing, or maybe the wind blowing through the trees; enjoy the sounds and wait. What you hear is speaking to you. You are being welcomed to your new school. Think about the bird singing, the water flowing, the wind, or the trees. What are they saying? They may be saying come back to where you belong and begin to be what you truly are. Only you and they know. Listen with your heart and you will understand. There is a spirit in all things, these spirits will guide and teach you if you have the wisdom to listen and learn.
The Sacred Way
An Ojibwa Prayer begins: "We know that in all creation, only the human family has strayed from the Sacred Way." So how have we gotten so far off the track? What has happened to the Native American way of life, and to our families? What do we need to do to start living the Sacred Way again? We need to learn the old ways, to seek out teachers for ourselves and our children. Our Sacred traditions must be passed on if we are to survive. Where are the teachers of the old ways? You can find the Elders at Gatherings. Look up where "Pow-Wows" are being held in your area. Go to these Gatherings with an open heart and mind. Walk around, watch, and listen. If this is your first time at a Gathering, and you don't know anyone, go to the circle and see who is respected. Talk to the arena director, tell him that you wish to learn the old ways. Above all things, be respectful. MOst likely you will find that there are many who are happy to talk to you. Listen to what is said to you with your heart and not just your ears. Remember the old saying, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. If we follow our hearts we can and will return to our culture, to spirituality and once again live as one Tribe, one People.
Links
- The Encyclopedia of Hotcâk (Winnebago) Mythology
- Articles, stories, and histories, edited and compiled by Richard L. Dieterle, with genealogies, bibliography, and links.
- Mamit Innuat: Innu Mythology
- Overview from the website of the Innu Nation (formerly known as Montagnais or Naskapi) of Nitassinan (eastern Quebec and Labrador).
- Haliksai! This Is How It Was
- Hopi myth excerpted from Harry C. James' book "Pages From Hopi History."
- Storytelling: the Art of Knowledge
- Stories from Canada's First Peoples: the Inuvialuit, the Algonquin, the Métis and Cree, the Nisga'a, the Abenaki and the Mi'kmaq.
- Traditions of the Hopi
- By H. R. Voth (1905), e-text from the Internet Sacred Text Archive.
- Tales of the North American Indians
- Anthologized by Stith Thompson (1929), e-text from the Internet Sacred Text Archive.
- White Buffalo Calf Woman Brings the First Pipe
- A Lakota myth as told by Joseph Chasing Horse.
- The Thunder-bird Amongst the Algonkins
- Article by A. F. Chamberlain (1890?), e-text from Early Canadiana Online.
- Many Swans: Sun Myth of the North American Indians
- By Amy Lowell (1920), e-text from the Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library.
- The Myth of Hiawatha and Other Oral Legends, Mythologic and Allegoric, of the North American Indians
- By Henry R. Schoolcraft (1856), e-text from Early Canadiana Online.
- Notes on Eskimo Traditions
- Article by Harlan I. Smith (1893?), e-text from Early Canadiana Online.
- The Myths of the New World: A Treatise on the Symbolism and Mythology of the Red Race of America
- By Daniel G. Brinton (1868), e-text from Early Canadiana Online.
- Yahoo! Groups: Native Ar
- Native American mythology, folklore and stories.
- Aadizookaan - Traditional Stories, Legends, and Myths
- Extensive collection of annotated links to traditional stories, myths, and legends from many different Native American Nations.
Native American Books
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 10/06/2008)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
Amazon Price: $12.96 (as of 10/06/2008)
The Divided Ground: Indians, Settlers, and the Northern Borderland of the American Revolution
Amazon Price: $35.00 (as of 10/06/2008)
The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons for Living
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/06/2008)
Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two
Amazon Price: $12.74 (as of 10/06/2008)
Native American Music
Sacred Spirit: Chants and Dances of the Native Americans
Amazon Price: $9.97 (as of 10/06/2008)
Tribal Winds: Music From Native American Flutes
Amazon Price: $19.98 (as of 10/06/2008)
Canyon Trilogy: Native American Flute Music
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/06/2008)
Tribal Waters: Music from Native Americans
Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 10/06/2008)
Music for the Native Americans
Amazon Price: $9.97 (as of 10/06/2008)
